Vehicle

The present disclosure relates to a vehicle (Utility Vehicle) capable of off-road travelling.

Vehicles (Utility vehicles) for travelling on rough terrain such as a soft or uneven ground are known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 10,988,187 B2 discloses a utility vehicle having an air conditioning unit.

It is desired to provide air conditioning suitable for an off-road travelling vehicle, or more particularly, to provide high off-road travelling performance as well as high air conditioning performance.

It is accordingly a non-limiting object of the present disclosure to provide a vehicle that provides high off-road travelling performance as well as high air conditioning performance.

According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a vehicle for travelling on rough terrain is provided. The vehicle includes a cabin, a floor panel, an air blower and a duct. The floor panel is configured to define a floor surface of the cabin. The floor panel includes a floor tunnel extending in a front-rear direction that is a length direction of the vehicle. The air blower is arranged in a front part of the vehicle. The air blower includes an outlet configured such that air is blown into the cabin. The duct is configured to guide air from the air blower to a rear half portion of the cabin. The duct includes a first end part, a second end part and an extending part. The first end part is connected to the air blower. The second end part includes an opening part open to the rear half portion of the cabin. The extending part extends between the first and second end parts. The extending part includes a first part extending in the front-rear direction. The whole duct is arranged above the floor tunnel in an up-down direction of the vehicle.

is a schematic right side view of a utility vehicleas a representative example of a utility vehicle according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. Unlike a general vehicle primarily for travelling on a paved road, the utility vehicleis provided primarily for travelling on off-road, such as on a dirt mountain road or forest road, mud and rocky ground as well as on grassland, gravel road and sand. Inand the other drawings, a front-rear direction, an up-down direction and a right-left direction of the utility vehicleare appropriately shown. These directions are orthogonal to each other. The front-rear direction is also a vehicle length direction. In the front-rear direction, a direction to the front is a forward travelling direction of the utility vehicle, and a direction to the rear is a backward travelling direction of the utility vehicle. The right-left direction is also a vehicle width direction. In the up-down direction, the side of the utility vehicleon which wheels are arranged is a lower side.

As shown in, the utility vehicleincludes a vehicle bodyhaving a body frame, a pair of right and left front wheelsand a pair of right and left rear wheels, which support the vehicle body, an engineas a power source for travelling of the utility vehicle, and an air blower. The right and left front and rear wheels,each have a so-called low-pressure tire. The engineis arranged in a rear partof the vehicle body. The air bloweris arranged in a front partof the vehicle body.

A cabinis arranged between the front wheelsand the rear wheelson the vehicle bodyand configured as a riding space for passengers. As shown in, the cabinis surrounded by doors, windowsand a roofand so on. The doors, the windowsand the roofseparate the inside of the cabinfrom the external environment of the utility vehicle. A front seatis arranged in a front half portionof the cabin, and a rear seatis arranged in a rear half portionof the cabin. A cargo bedis arranged behind the cabin. The cargo bedcan be manually or automatically tilted rearward.

The body frameis a frame structure formed of a sectioned material and serves as a skeleton of the vehicle body. The body frameis configured to form a ROPS (rollover protective structure).

In, a front pillar, an upper pillar, a center pillar, a rear pillarand a lower frameare shown as parts of the body frame. The front pillaris integrally formed with the upper pillarthat supports the roof. The front pillar, the upper pillar, the center pillarand the rear pillarare, for example, pipe materials made of metal. The lower frameis a lowermost layer of the body frameand forms a floor surfaceof the cabin. The lower frameis also referred to as a floor panel.

In addition to the floor panel, the cabinis defined mainly by a front panel, the roof, a pair of right and left front pillars, a pair of right and left center pillars, a pair of right and left rear pillars, and a rear panelthat connects the right and left rear pillars. In this embodiment, a front wall, a rear wall, an upper wall and a lower wall of the cabinare defined by the front panel, the rear panel, the roofand the floor panel, respectively. Further, right and left walls of the cabinare defined mainly by the right and left front pillars, the right and left center pillarsand the right and left rear pillars. More specifically, the left wallof the cabinis defined by the left front pillar, the left center pillar, the left rear pillar, and the doorsand the windowsthat are arranged between these pillars. Similarly, the right wall of the cabinis defined by the right front pillar, the right center pillar, the right rear pillar, and the doorsand the windowsthat are arranged between these pillars.

is a schematic top view for illustrating arrangement of parts of the utility vehicle. An imaginary plane P extending in the up-down direction through the center of the vehicle bodyin the vehicle width direction is shown in. The roofis not shown in.

The front seatis configured to seat three passengers side by side in the right-left direction. The front seatis a so-called bench seat. The front seatincludes a first front seat, a second front seatand a third front seat. The first front seatis a part in a left region of the front seatin the vehicle width direction. In front of the first front seat, various kinds of operating devices such as a steering wheeland an operation pedalare provided for a driver to operate the utility vehicle. The first front seatis also referred to as a driver's seat. The second front seatis a part in a right region of the front seatin the vehicle width direction. The third front seatis a part in a central region of the front seatin the vehicle width direction. The third front seatis provided between the first and second front seats,. Like the front seat, the rear seatis a so-called bench seat configured to seat three passengers side by side in the right-left direction. The structure of the rear seatis the same as that of the front seatand is therefore not described herein.

The lower frameis now described. The lower frameincludes a floor tunnelextending in the front-rear direction. The floor tunnelis arranged closer to the imaginary plane P than the operation pedal. In this embodiment, the floor tunnelis arranged generally in the center in the vehicle width direction. The arrangement of the floor tunnelgenerally in the center in the vehicle width direction includes that at least part of the floor tunneloverlaps the imaginary plane P. Therefore, the center of the floor tunnelin the vehicle width direction may or may not be located on the imaginary plane P. The floor tunnelextends from the floor panel, which defines the front wall of the cabin, to a rear end of the rear seat. The floor tunnelextends right below the third front seat. In this embodiment, the floor tunnelis integrally formed with the lower frame. The floor tunnelmay be formed separately from the lower frameand mounted on the lower frame. Inside the floor tunnel, for example, a propeller shaft for transmitting power of the engineto the front wheelsis arranged.

A ductis arranged on top of the floor tunnel. The ductis connected to the air blowerand configured to guide air from the air blowerto the rear half portionof the cabin. In, the ducton the floor tunnelis shown by bolder lines than the other components so as to be distinguished from the floor tunnel. Part of the ductis arranged right below the third front seatand on the floor tunnelin the up-down direction. The part of the ductright below the third front seatis shown by bold broken lines in. The ductis described in detail below.

The lower framedefines the floor surfaceof the cabin. The floor surfaceincludes an upper surfaceof the floor tunnel, and side floor surfacesor upper surfaces on the right and left sides of the upper surfaceof the floor tunnel. The upper surfaceis located at a level above the side floor surfaces.

The floor surfaceincludes a nonslip part. The nonslip partis configured to reduce the possibility that a passenger slips on the floor surface. In this embodiment, the nonslip partis formed by protrusions protruding upward from the floor surface.

The air bloweris configured to blow air into the cabin. The air blowerof this embodiment forms part of an air conditioning system for adjusting the temperature in the cabin. The air conditioning system includes a compressorfor compressing a refrigerant and other well-known devices such as an evaporator and a capacitor. In this embodiment, as shown in, the compressoris arranged in the rear partof the vehicle body.

is a perspective view showing the air blowerand the duct.is a sectional view showing the air blowerand the duct, taken along the imaginary plane P. The air bloweris now described.

As shown in, most of the air bloweris arranged forward of the cabin. The air bloweris assembled to the front panelthat defines the front wall of the cabin, while part of a housing of the air bloweris exposed into the cabin. The part of the air blowerthat is exposed into the cabinis hereinafter also referred to as an exposed part.

As shown in, the exposed partis arranged generally in the center in the vehicle width direction. The exposed partincludes openings,,formed as outlets through which air is blown out. The openingsandare formed in a left walland a right wallof the exposed part, respectively. The openingis formed in a central lower part of the exposed part. The openinghas a generally rectangular shape larger than the openings,. The openings,,are formed above the floor panelin the up-down direction. The openingis provided with an adjusting mechanism (not shown). The adjusting mechanism is configured to adjust the volume and wind direction of air to be blown out from the opening. The adjusting mechanism includes, for example, a louver.

As shown in, the ductas a whole is arranged above the floor tunnel. In this embodiment, the whole ductis arranged inside the cabin. It can also be said that the whole ductis exposed into the cabin. The ductis formed of metal or synthetic resin.

is a perspective view of the duct. As shown in, the ducthas a first end part, a second end parton the opposite side from the first end part, and an extending partextending between the first and second end parts,. In this embodiment, the whole ductis formed separately from the vehicle bodyand mounted to the air blower.

The first end partis configured to be connected to the air blower. In this embodiment, the first end partis connected to the openings,of the air blowerwhile the openingof the air bloweris exposed. Specifically, the first end parthas a lower end partextending in the right-left direction below the opening, a first mounting partprotruding upward from a left end of the lower end part, and a second mounting partprotruding upward from a right end of the lower end part.

The first mounting partis removably mounted to the left wallof the exposed part. The first mounting parthas a first opening. The first openingis opposed to the openingof the left wallwhen the first mounting partis mounted to the left wall. The second mounting partis removably mounted to the right wallof the exposed part. The second mounting parthas a second opening. The second openingis opposed to the openingof the right wallwhen the second mounting partis mounted to the right wall. The first and second mounting parts,can be mounted to the air blowerin any well-known manner if the first end partis configured to be removable from the air blower. For example, the first mounting partmay have a locking projection that is configured to pinch the left wallin the front-rear direction so as to lock the first mounting partto the left wall. Alternatively, the first mounting partmay be configured to be mounted to the left wallwith a screw. Similarly, the second mounting partmay have a locking projection that is configured to pinch the right wallin the front-rear direction so as to lock the second mounting partto the right wall. Alternatively, the second mounting partmay be configured to be mounted to the right wallwith a screw.

The extending partis a part of the ductthat extends between the first and second end parts,. As shown in, the extending partincludes a first partand a second partformed on the front side of the first part. As shown in, the first partis placed on top of the floor tunneland extends in the front-rear direction. As shown in, the first partis fixed to the upper surfaceof the floor tunnelwith screws. The second partis a tubular part that connects the lower end partof the first end partand the first part. The second partis formed to conform to the shape of the front panel. The second parthas a flat shape having a shorter length in the longitudinal direction than in the right-left direction.

The first partis now described in further detail. The first partincludes a first front partand a first rear partextending rearward from the first front part. As shown in, the first front partis a part of the first partthat extends from a front end of the cabinto a front end of the front seat. The first front partis located under feet of a passenger on the third front seat. The first rear partis a part of the first partthat extends from the front end of the front seatclose to a rear end of the front seat. In this embodiment, the first front partand the first rear partare arranged within the width of the floor tunnelin the right-left direction.

As shown in, the first front parthas an upper surfacegenerally parallel to the floor surface. As shown in, like the floor surface, the upper surfacehas a nonslip part. In the drawings other than, the nonslip partis not shown.

In, a width Wof the first front partin the right-left direction and a height Hof the first front partin the up-down direction are shown. The width Wis generally equal to a width in the right-left direction of a part of the floor tunnelthat extends from the front end of the cabinto the front end of the front seat. The height His smaller than the width H. The first front partis formed in a flat shape. The first front partis also referred to as a flat part. Further, in, a height H of the floor tunnelin the up-down direction is shown. The height H of the floor tunnelcorresponds to the distance between the side floor surfacesand the upper surfaceof the floor tunnelin the up-down direction. The height Hof the flat partis smaller than the height H of the floor tunnel. The height Hof the flat partis, for example, about a quarter of the height H of the floor tunnel.

As shown in, the first rear partis located right below the third front seat. It can also be said that the first rear partis arranged between the first and second front seats,. The arrangement of the first rear partright below the third front seatmeans that the first rear partoverlaps the third front seatin plan view as shown in. As shown in, the first rear partis formed to have a height increasing toward the rear in the up-down direction. The first rear partis also referred to as an enlarged diameter part. The first rear parthas a cross section increasing from the connection with the first front parttoward the second end part.

The inner structure of the first partis now described. In, the first partis shown in cross section. As shown in, the first parthas a pair of side walls,extending in the up-down direction and an upper wallconnected to upper ends Sof the side walls,. The first partis open at a bottom part Sopposed to the upper wall. In other words, the first partdoes not have a lower wall. As shown in, lower ends Sof the side walls,abut the upper surfaceof the floor tunnel. The upper wallof the floor tunnelis opposed to the upper wallof the first partwhen the first partis fixed to the floor tunnel. Thus, the upper wallof the floor tunnelserves as a lower wall of the first part.

A reinforcing wallis provided inside the first front part. In this embodiment, reinforcing wallsare arranged spaced apart in the right-left direction inside the first front part. Each of the reinforcing wallsis connected to the upper walland extends in the up-down direction. The reinforcing wallis generally parallel to the side walls,. A lower end of the reinforcing wallabuts the upper wallof the floor tunnel. The reinforcing wallis formed, for example, of metal or synthetic resin.further shows the propeller shaftand pipes including a refrigerant pipe, which extend in the front-rear direction within the floor tunnel. The propeller shafttransmits power of the engineto the right and left front wheels. The refrigerant pipeis connected between the compressorarranged in the rear partof the vehicle bodyand the air blower.

Referring toagain, the second end partis now described. The second end parton the rear end of the extending partdefines a rear end of the duct. The second end parthas a rear wallextending in the up-down direction and opening partsformed in the rear wall. Each of the opening partshas an adjusting mechanism. Like the adjusting mechanism of the opening, the adjusting mechanismis configured to adjust the volume and wind direction of air to be blown out from the opening part.

It is described how air flows when the ducthaving the above-described structure is mounted to the air blowerand the air bloweris driven. In, air flow within the ductis shown by arrow F, and air flow within the cabinis shown by arrows F, F. As shown by arrow Fin, air blown out from the openingof the exposed partpasses through the inside of the first mounting partand flows toward the first front partvia the second part. Similarly, air blown out from the openingof the exposed partpasses through the inside of the second mounting partand flows toward the first front partvia the second part. Air flowing through the first front partspreads in the up-down direction in the enlarged diameter part, and is blown out to the rear half portionof the cabinthrough the opening partsof the second end partas shown by arrow F.

The openingof the exposed partis not covered by the first end part. Therefore, air blown out from the openingspreads to the center of the front half portionof the cabinas shown by arrow Fin. Where the ductis not attached to the air blower, air blown out from the openingmainly flows toward the first front seat, and air blown out from the openingmainly flows toward the second front seat.

Effects of the first embodiment are now described.

The ducthas the first end partconnected to the air blower, the second end parthaving the opening partsopen to the rear half portionof the cabin, and the extending part, and the ductguides air from the air blowerto the rear half portionof the cabin. Therefore, in the utility vehicleaccording to the first embodiment, the environment of the rear half portionof the cabincan be improved.

Generally, the environment under the floor panelis subject to exhaust heat from other parts such as a radiator(see) arranged in the front partof the vehicle body. According to the first embodiment, however, the whole ductis arranged above the floor panelin the up-down direction, so that temperature rise within the ductby exhaust heat from other parts is suppressed. Thus, according to the first embodiment, the air conditioning performance of the utility vehiclecan be improved.

Further, the environment under the floor panelis easily affected by foreign matters such as mud splashed up by the front wheelsduring off-road travelling of the utility vehicleor by obstacles on a road surface. According to the first embodiment, however, the whole ductis arranged above the floor tunnelin the up-down direction, so that the ductis protected from such foreign matters and obstacles by the floor panelincluding the floor tunnel. Off-road travelling (travelling on rough terrain) of the utility vehicleincludes crossing rivers and passing muddy areas. In the utility vehicleaccording to this embodiment, entry of liquid into the ductis reduced even in such off-road travelling, compared with a structure having a duct under the floor panel.

With the structure having the ductabove the floor panel, the number of parts arranged under the floor panelis also reduced. Thus, a ground clearance, or a distance between a road surface and a part located at the lowest level among main components of the utility vehicle, is secured, so that the off-road travelling performance of the utility vehicleis improved.

The whole ductis arranged inside the cabin. The environment inside the cabinis cleaner than the outside of the cabin. Thus, according to the first embodiment, the environment inside the cabinis improved, and the ductis facilitated in maintenance and has a longer life.

The first end parthas the first and second mounting parts,removably mounted to the air blower. Thus, the ductcan be attached to the vehicle bodyaccording to user's desire (needs) for the environmental comfort of the rear half portionof the cabin. In other words, a user or a manufacturer can additionally attach the ductto the vehicle bodyof the utility vehicle. Thus, the vehicle bodycan be standardized in case that utility vehicles are manufactured.

The extending partincludes the first partextending in the front-rear direction, and the second partformed on the front side of the first part. The first partis fixed to the upper surfaceof the floor tunnel. Thus, the possibility that the first partobstructs movement of a passenger in the front half portionis reduced.

The second partis formed along the front paneland connects the first end partand the first part. Thus, the extending partas a whole is arranged along the front paneland the floor tunnel. Therefore, in a structure in which the extending partis arranged within the cabin, the space of the front half portionof the cabinis secured.

The front partof the first parton the floor tunnelis formed in a flat shape having the height Hin the up-down direction that is smaller than the width H. Thus, the space in the first partcan be enlarged while the height Hof the first partis reduced. This allows air to sufficiently flow toward the second end part, while reducing the possibility of reducing passenger's ease of getting on and off.

The rear partof the first partis an enlarged diameter part having a cross section increasing toward the second end part. Thus, air blown out from the opening partsof the second end parteasily spreads to the rear half portionof the cabin. Further, compared with a structure in which the first parthas a constant cross section up to the second end part, the wind speed of air blown out from the opening partsis reduced. This reduces the possibility that relatively strong air flow is blown to a passenger in the rear half portionof the cabin.

In the first embodiment, the first partis fixed to the floor tunnel, and the upper wallof the floor tunnelserves as a lower wall of the first part. Therefore, compared with a structure in which the first parthas a lower wall, the ductcan be reduced in weight.

The upper surfaceof the first front partis generally parallel to the floor surface. The upper surfaceas well as the floor surfacehas the nonslip part. This reduces the possibility that a passenger's foot slips on the first front part. Therefore, a passenger can treat (or consider) the first front partas part of the floor surfaceof the cabin.

The reinforcing wallis provided inside the first part. Thus, the rigidity of the first partis enhanced, so that a passenger can apply his or her weight onto the first partand treat the first partas part of the floor surfaceof the cabin.

Other embodiments in which the ductis arranged above the floor tunnellike in the utility vehicleof the first embodiment are now described.